Hatbox



B. M. HAMLIN.

HATBOX FOR TRUNKS.

APPLICATIONHLED JUNK-I12. I919.

PatentedAug.12,1919.

// I N VEN TOR.

7/5 ATTORNEY.

To all whom it may concern:

U TE TE T TE T OFFICE- BEN M. HAMLIN, or CHICACC, ILLINoIs-AssIeNoR TO J. v. MEYERING TRUNK CQM- PANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION or I LINo s.

HATBOX. FOB TRUNKs.

' Application fi1edJune 12,'1919..'S'eria1'No.308,672. I

Be it known that I'BEN M. HAMLIN, a citizen of the United states, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, and State of 'Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hatboxes for'Trunks, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relatesto hat boxes for' wardrobe trunks and its principal object is to provide a simple, compact and practical hat box constructed and arranged to accom-1' modate ladies large hats and also ladies small hats and other articles. 'Another ob'-' ject' is to provide a ladys hat box which may 'be converted into a pluralityof trays where- L by separate commodities may be packed away in each tray, one of these trays serving as a hat box for small hats. The invention consists in the several novel features of con-' struction hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated'in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a'perspective view of a hat box, embodying a simple formof the present invention; 7 i i Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section, showing one of the trays adjusted to provide a double size compartment for accommodating ladies large hats; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmental vertical, longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to said drawing, the reference character 5 designates a rectangular box of a height suitable to receive ladies large hats. The width and depth of the box are made to fit the interior of one section of an ordinary wardrobe trunk, as is well understood by those sln'lled in the art to which this invention pertains. Said box has a front 6, back 7, ends 8, and bottom 9, secured together in any suitable manner, and a handle 10 is provided on the front by means of which the box may be withdrawn from the trunk sec tion in which it is usually contained. On the bottom 9 of said box, a threaded stem 11 is fastened, to which is removably secured a stuffed hat ball 12, to which small hats may be pinned in the usual manner of packing them in trunks. To the inner face of the back wall 7 is secured a similar threaded stem 11, adapted to receive the stuffed hat ball 12, when the box is converted into a double sized compartment forreceivingla dies large hats.

Patented A ug.12,1919.,

Fitting in the box 5 is a. box-like m H 2% which is about one-half the depth of the main box 5, and said tray 14 is adapted to 1 rest upon cleats 15 secured to thejinner faces ofthe ends 8. The tray comprises a front 16, ends 17 and bottom 18,'all rigidly fastened together, and a back-19 hingedlyse cured to the bottom 18by hinges 20,an'd be ing capable of being swung down toward .65 said bottom 18 whenthe. device. is converted T lnto a double sizedcompartment. To the I inner faces of the ends 17 of the tray are f. plvotally secured latches 21, which ha-ve hook-like ends 22 that. are adapted to {engage with keepers 23secured to the 'innerface'off the hinged back 19, and'said latches 21, when properly engaged with the keepers 23, act torigidly hold the hinged back in placejto form thetray 14. Buttons or latches 24 are Pivotally Secured to theends 17; and are an ranged to b engaged with the hingediback 19 when the latter is'svun'g towardthe bee tom 18.; said buttons or latches 24. act to hold c said hi gedtack in its foldedbakpositionzj Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section thereof,

Loops 25 are secured to the inner face of the ends 17 of the tray, and furnish means for facilitating the removal of the tray from the main box, and other loops 26 are secured to the outer face of the bottom 18 and facilitate the removal of the tray when it is in its inverted position; which it occupies when the device is converted into a double sized compartment.

When used as a double compartment, or double tray, the folding back 19 is held in upright position by the latches 21 and keepers 23, to form the back of the tray which rests upon the cleats 15 of the outer box. In this position each box-like member 5, 14, serves as a separate container or compartment for various things, and hats. may be pinned to the stuffed hat ball 12 in the lower atthe rear of the box. In this position the bottom 18 of the tray forms a cover for the hat box, and free space is left within the box to accommodate ladies large hats, which may be pinned to the stufled hat ball 12.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible Without departing from the spirit of this invention; I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein. p I v I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A convertiblmhat box comprising an outer rectangular box having supporting ledges upon its internal wall, and an inner box of approximately onehalf the depth of said outer "box, adapted to be removably supportedby said ledges in upright position, to

form, with said outer box, a double compartment, said inner box having aback hingedly secured to its bottom 'and latches for holding said hinged back in upright position, said jilllle rjbOx being arranged to te inverted, With its back folded down, and supported uponjsaid cleats to provide a single compartment of ,the full depth of the outer box, substantially as and for the pur-v p s S 'fbr h- 2. A convertible hat box comprising an outer rectangular box having cleats secured upon its end Walls, hat ball supports, one on the bottom of said box, and one on the back Wall thereof, a hat ball adapted to be removably secured on either of said hat ball sup ports, and an inner boX of approximately one-half the depth of the outer box arranged to rest upon said cleats in upright position to form two compartments, said inner boX having a back hingedly secured to itsbottoni, means for securing said back in upright position and means for holding said back in position folded down upon the bottom, said inner box being capable of being inverted, With its back folded down upon said bottom, and supported in inverted position upon said cleats, to provide a single compart'n'ient I of the full depth of 'the outer box,

3. A convertible hat box coiiipri-s-ing an outer rectangulai'. box having suppering cleats on its end walls, a hat ball removably secured on its back Wall, and 'an inner box of approximately "one-half the'd'ep'th of the outer box and arranged to i'estupon 'sa'id cleats 1n upri-ght posltlon to prov de two. compartments, sald innerbo'x having a back hingedly secured to its bottom, latches for holding the back in upright position, aild loops at the top and bottom of said inner box, said inner box being; capable of being supported by said cleats in invertedposi' tion 'with its back folded against its bottdm, to provide a slngle compartment of the 'full depth of the outer bdx.

BEN M. jHA'MiLIN. 

